Although international observers determined that the poll had been fair, Tymoshenko declared the results fraudulent and refused to recognize Yanukovych’s victory; she and her supporters boycotted the inauguration of Yanukovych on February 25. 2014 February - Maidan Revolution ousts pro-Kremlin government over … Motivated by many factors, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has triggered the greatest security crisis in Europe since the Cold War. At this point most opposition groups, such as the student group Pora, already suspected fraud. In 2004-2005 mass protests lasting for two months - the Orange Revolution - helped bring to power pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko, who … Today, the country appears to be on the front lines of a renewed great-power rivalry that many analysts say will dominate international relations in the decades ahead. In the parliamentary election in October 2012, the ruling Party of Regions emerged as the single largest bloc, with 185 seats. The higher ranks of soldiers refused the orders, however, and the attack never took place. For the supporters of Yushchenko and his opposition coalition, this was a clear sign of election fraud. Furthermore, on November 24, the Central Election Commission announced Yanukovych as the winner, sparking even greater anger from the pro-Yushchenko groups. These events have changed Ukraine's history. These changes are sometimes erroneously referred to as the "2004 Constitution". The last stages of the election were contested between the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko and the incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych from the Party of Regions. Ukraine has long played an important, yet sometimes overlooked, role in the global security order. These demonstrators congregated in the Maidan, Kiev’s main square. The incumbent president, Leonid Kuchma, had personally chosen Yanukovych as his successor, but their political party was losing popular support. Winning 48.95 percent of the vote—a narrow lead over Tymoshenko’s 45.47 percent—Yanukovych took the presidency. The Ukrainian government further improved relations with Russia in June 2010, when it officially abandoned its goal of joining NATO—a pursuit Russia had opposed. Subtelny, Orest. It was both a symbol and a symptom of the revolution that rippled across Ukraine last week. Representatives of the executive authorities, local authorities and clergy, participants in the revolutions in Ukraine in 2004, 2013-2014, families of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and the Joint Forces Operation in Donetsk … In the runoff the following month, Yanukovych was declared the winner, though Yushchenko’s supporters charged fraud and staged mass protests that came to be known as the Orange Revolution. On November 28, a high up government official (either the Interior Minister or the Chief of Staff) ordered troops to move in on the demonstrators. The demonstrators gave flowers to the soldiers that surrounded the Maidan and played music for them. It was just after 2 a.m. on November 22, 2004, when the call went out: “The time has come to defend your life and Ukraine. In exchange, Ukraine would receive a reduction in the price of Russian natural gas. Ukraine's "orange revolution" is a genuine outpouring of popular sentiment for freedom and justice. The election was the fourth presidential election to take place in Ukraine following independence from the Soviet Union. In April 2010, following a fractious parliamentary debate, Ukraine agreed to extend Russia’s lease of the port at Sevastopol, originally set to expire in 2017, until 2042. Nevertheless, on December 3 the Supreme Court ruled the election invalid and ordered a new runoff for December 26. Orange Revolution, Ukraine, 2004. The regime attempted to suppress the Orange Revolution using security forces. The Global Nonviolent Action Database is a project of Swarthmore College, including the Peace and Conflict Studies Program, the Peace Collection, and the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility. In order to support the presence in Kiev of demonstrators from around the country, the campaigners took over public buildings, offered private homes, and set up open kitchens. 2004 Presidential Election - Orange Revolution. As the campaign grew, Yushchenko set up the Committee of National Salvation and called for a national strike until the true results of the election were honored. The first color revolution took place in Georgia in … The last time they did this, in November 2004, the result was the prolonged international incident that became known as the Orange Revolution. Dual sovereignty and parallel government, 147. Deliberate inefficiency and selective noncooperation by enforcement agents, 122. The 2004 elections and Orange Revolution A lot happened in Ukraine in the decade that followed. Political turmoil occupied the first few years of Yushchenko’s presidency. When a proposed coalition of the so-called Orange parties in the parliament fell apart, Yushchenko was forced to accept his rival Yanukovych as prime minister. Protestors also occupied the Maidan and set-up tents to continue the spirit of protest day and night. The runoff results were split largely along regional lines, with most of western Ukraine supporting Tymoshenko and most of the east favouring Yanukovych. In September Yushchenko’s health began to fail, and medical tests later revealed he had suffered dioxin poisoning (allegedly carried out by the Ukrainian State Security Service), which left his face disfigured. Protesters occupied the justice ministry in Kyiv, and the parliament hastily … Demonstrators from outside Kiev also came to the capital to join in the protests. When all votes had been counted—this time without manipulation—Yushchenko won, 52% to Yanukovych’s 44%. President Kuchma had ordered 10,000 troops, stationed outside Kiev, to attack the demonstrators, but the Ukrainian intelligence services defied Kuchma's orders and prevented the attack. Cleared to seek a third term as president by the Constitutional Court, Kuchma instead endorsed the candidacy of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was also strongly supported by Russian Pres. More and more Ukrainians joined the protests every day. Yushchenko, supported by a united opposition, was expected to win the election. Ukrainians overthrow dictatorship (Orange Revolution), 2004, Included Participation by More Than One Social Class, 005. Third, the events in November 2004 forever changed relations between Ukraine and Russia. Several other cities also refused to recognize the results of the election, believing Yushchenko to be the true winner. The results of the second round were protested by the opposition in connection with massive falsifications. The next presidential election, held on January 17, 2010, confirmed the political demise of President Yushchenko, who received only about 5 percent of the vote. The next prime minister, Yury Yekhanurov, stayed in office only until January 2006. Banners, posters, and displayed communications, 018. Tymoshenko’s Fatherland party claimed 101 seats, Vitali Klitschko’s Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms (UDAR) won 40 seats, and the ultranationalist Svoboda (“Freedom”) party had a surprisingly strong showing, winning 37 seats. In what was widely seen as an attempt to thaw relations with the EU, Yanukovych pardoned the imprisoned Lutsenko and ordered his release in April 2013. Exit polls, on the other hand, showed Yushchenko winning by 11%. 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